Kharif crops sowing area increased by 1.9 percent to reach above 1108 lakh hectares

03-Oct-2024 08:31 PM

New Delhi. Official data shows that the total production area of ​​Kharif crops has increased to 1108.57 lakh hectares in the current year which is 1.9 percent more than last year's sowing area of ​​1088.25 lakh hectares. This area is also more than the five-year average area of ​​1096 lakh hectares.

Compared to last year, during the current Kharif season, the production area of ​​paddy, pulses, oilseeds, coarse grains and sugarcane has increased but the sowing area of ​​cotton and jute/mesta has decreased.

The area of ​​paddy was 2.5 percent more than last year. Among pulses crops, the sowing area of ​​Arhar (Tuvar), Moong, Moth and Kulthi has increased but the area of ​​Urad has decreased.

Similarly, among oilseed crops, the production area of ​​groundnut and soybean has increased while the area of ​​sesame and castor has declined.

Among coarse cereals, the sowing area of ​​maize, sorghum, ragi and small millets has increased but the sowing area of ​​millet has lagged behind. The area under sugarcane has increased by 57 thousand hectares.

Good monsoon rains helped farmers in increasing the sowing of Kharif crops but there are reports of damage to Kharif crops due to excessive rainfall and floods at some places.

Monsoon rains have been 6 percent more than the normal average at the national level while it has not yet completely left the country.

The harvesting and preparation season of Kharif crops has also started but the pace of harvesting is slow due to water accumulation in the fields in some areas.

Its pace is expected to increase in the coming days. The government is confident of better production of Kharif crops this time, so it has made the rules for export of rice quite liberal.